Leslie and I had been yarn shopping in the Boise and Meridian areas on our day off from work. It was 54°F out and sunny. We were going to take a walk around the neighborhood when we got home, but Leslie suggested we go to the MK Nature Conservancy instead. I had never been there, which surprised Leslie; all of the time I have been living in Idaho, I hadn't taken the time to see this place. So after yarn shopping, we came to this place near the Idaho Fish and Game Offices in Boise.
Even though it was sunny outside, there were only one or two other people in the park when Leslie and I arrived. So we had the place pretty much to ourselves. The MK Nature Conservancy is a beautiful place with smooth-as-glass ponds and natural plants and fauna for all to see. There are several places for wild animals to seek shelter, like birdhouses, beaver dams, and twig shelters, to protect them from the cold, rain, or snowy conditions that hit this area in the winter. Several signs are posted along the paths that tell you about the animals that live in each shelter. It was December 13, and it felt like April. We human animals were only clad in polar fleece jackets to protect us from the elements. I kept saying I couldn't believe it was December and that I was going up north to Donnelly to be in the snow and real winter conditions. Leslie laughed at my comments.
The MK Nature Conservancy was built in 1990 from funding from the Morrison-Knudsen Company and is owned and run by Idaho Fish and Game. It is a small park that can be walked in about a half an hour and is open 9 to 5 seven days a week. People are advised to leave any animals they see alone and not to run into the woods or water and disturb their environment. It is a place in the middle of Boise that is well worth your time when you visit the City of Trees any time of the year.
From journal Christmas in Idaho: Knit 1, Purl 1